Well, decided to add the VAMC (Hampton) to health care lineup. Since several health issues are service connected and I really should have some specialists involved, it seemed like a good idea.

Got an intake appointment fairly quickly--like 2 weeks--so that seemed okay. Made the appointment yesterday with interviews with Nurse, followed by Nurse Practitioner (long interview). At the end, she tells me its now taking 6 months to see a PCP and that's what she would put in my notes, but when the front desk would assign the PCP during checkout and they might schedule me as far out as 9 months!!!! I was a little stunned by this...so didn't even question her. Then the front desk couldn't figure out what to do, so I left with nothing but a phone number to call back.

Called this morning, and spoke to someone at the front desk of the primary care clinic I visted yesterday. Now the story is that the N/P recommended a 6 month follow-up (huh?) with a PCP. Now I'm asking questions, but the runaround is that they are both saying the same thing, just using different language. Well gee...ya think? "6 month wait" is not the same as "schedule for followup in 6 months", at least not in english.

Only the PCP can schedule specialty consults (except Mental Health, which the N/P did). I really need a couple of consults...but to wait 6 months? Is this right? should I call the other primary care clinic (where my PCP is assigned) to get an earlier appointment? Any suggestions?

It is bad. If you have symptoms you can use emergency but that will not really help much. They used to give a waiting list to get an appointment. My record wait time was over 2 years unless you count that I have yet to see a Cardio Doc although I am listed as CAD.

If you want better service see if a Patient Rep can help.

I did the math and my PCP would have to see a patient every 37 seconds just to keep up.

If I wanna talk with my doc, I gotta wait for her next available phone appointment, which can be close to a month.

But- like you said, no referrals without her.

I suggest asking for a phone call from PCP since you have pressing issues.

Other option might be the ER, which is often a type of 'day clinic' for those who can't/won't wait to see their PCP.

If the ER determines you have issues, they might refer you.

Hampton Roads is a cool area. I spent a week in HRVA in '84 after a spider bite. Norfolk was a wild town back then.

All the best!

Get the Patient Advocate involved. If they can not see you within 30 days for a service connected condtion they should give you a referral. That is what the patient advocte is there for. Use them.

For a specialist consult....that sounds close to normal. Depends on the severity of your symptoms.

Welcome to VA.....i.e. "government" healthcare.

When I leave my PCP or VA shrink I can't just make an appointment. I tell them when the doctor wants to see me again and they make a "Call for appointment, appointment". So I wait until the date of my " call for appointment" and then call for an appointment. This is idiotic since it makes it nearly impossible for me to coordinate my appointments with the opioid clinic which has labs with my PCP with has labs. The VA does this because they say many vets don't show up for their appointments without being reminded. They treat me like a child and I never miss appointments without calling first. Do they do this at anyone else'es VAMC. Oh, and it I get only one dental exam every two years. One visit with my shrink every 3-4 months. Two visits a year with my PCP and opioid nurse to check to see if I am selling the percoset I get. I guess they will be cutting out the percoset in the future. I wish I could get oxycontin instead.

Dayton does this also. But I think it's to keep there stats up. If they put us on a "please call us in 5 months list" for an appt in 6 months....then it looks like they are getting vets appts in a 30-day window...........and their numbers are matching their goal.
It's their little game.

I don't even get regular appts with my PCP.
Right now I'm seeing my mental health doc every 30 days because they keep changing my meds.